New Assemblyman Says He Was Chastised For Not Applauding Cuomo’s “Call For Unfettered Abortions”

His initial impression? “Albany is an unfriendly place for a principled conservative,” he said in a fundraising appeal today.

In the fundraising email, Lalor knocks Albany’s attempts to enact tougher gun laws, saying, “We need to stand fast against the left-wing attack on the Second Amendment. I promise you I will not waver as I work to protect our Second Amendment rights in Albany.”

He criticizes the re-election of Sheldon Silver as Assembly speaker, saying it was a shock to see in person and that Silver “is at the root of Albany’s corruption and our state’s reputation as the heavily regulated, over-taxed, anti-business Capital of the nation.”

He said Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s State of the State address was “suited for a 2016 Democrat presidential primary speech, not a reasonable plan for governing a state in serious trouble.”

And he said he was chastised by a Democratic lawmaker “for not leaping to my feet to give a standing ovation to Cuomo’s call for unfettered abortions.”

Here’s the full letter:

Dear Friends,

Have you had a chance to read the Washington Times’ coverage on Gov. Cuomo’s anti-Second Amendment agenda and my response? In the article, I go toe-to-toe with the governor and other national figures.

We need to stand fast against the left-wing attack on the Second Amendment. I promise you I will not waver as I work to protect our Second Amendment rights in Albany. I need your help, though, to get our message out. Would you consider making a donation of $25, $50, $100 or more right now? Left-wing groups in Albany are organized and well-funded for this fight. Your contribution can help us defend our rights from this politically-motivated attack.

Taking my seat on the floor of the Assembly this week, I was struck by the serious responsibility my friends and neighbors in Dutchess County have chosen to bestow on me. It is humbling and I promise I will not let you down.

Albany is an unfriendly place for a principled conservative. That is why I need your help. New York is going to be the national epicenter for the left’s attack on the Second Amendment. Let’s stop the attack on our rights here and now. Join me in the defense of our rights with a contribution of $25, $50, $100 or more today.

This will be a hard fight, Albany often seems hopelessly broken. The Assembly’s first order of business was to choose a Speaker. I am proud that my first official act in the Assembly was to vote against Sheldon Silver whose most recent breach of the public trust was secretly using tax dollars to protect his buddy, Assemblyman Vito Lopez, from a sexual harassment suit. It’s no surprise that Sheldon Silver was once again elected as Speaker. But, it is still a shock to see, at least in person. Silver is at the root of Albany’s corruption and our state’s reputation as the heavily regulated, over-taxed, anti-business Capital of the nation.

I was in attendance for Gov. Cuomo’s far-left State of the State address. The governor’s words were suited for a 2016 Democrat presidential primary speech, not a reasonable plan for governing a state in serious trouble.

While listening to the speech I was actually heckled by a Democrat Member of the Assembly who chastised me for not leaping to my feet to give a standing ovation to Cuomo’s call for unfettered abortions. The colleague sniffed, “You’d better stand up if you know what is good for you.” So much for the left’s call for civility in politics.

We are in for long fight in Albany. Please join me with a contribution today. Whatever amount you can afford can make a real difference. Albany may seem hopeless at times, but I finished my first week with optimism. My office has been flooded with constituents urging me to stand up for the Second Amendment. American voters are standing up for their rights and proudly voicing their opinions. That gives me great hope for what can be done to change Albany. Please consider a contribution today.